Problem: Animal Waste Management

The increasing density of animal agricultural operations has been an important factor in nitrate pollution incidence. For example, the EPA estimates that one adult dairy cow produces more than 5,000 gallons of manure each year, containing 200 pounds of nitrogen, as well as 43 pounds of phosphorus, and 138 pounds of potassium--all of which are contributors to water quality deterioration (NPS, 1999).